This year, the Bedford Science Olympiad team scored record achievements that they never pulled off before.

They qualified for the national finals for the second year in a row, and came in 21st in the finals! This is the highest a Connecticut middle school has ever placed.

The national finals was held at Cornell this year. Mr. Art Ellis, the director of Science Olympiad, said that Science Olympiad was created to inspire kids and grow their enthusiasm towards learning. “Kids do Science Olympiad because they are passionate about it,” he said. In the national finals, 50 kids compete in 23 events that relate to science, technology, engineering, and math.

For students like Clara Smith, an 8th grader here at BMS, it’s a great opportunity to make friends. “It feels like a second family to me,” she said.

Students take great pride and care in their work. They love competing, and attending events, and bring out the best in Westport.

Dr. Cortright, another club adviser, told us in an email, “We can all be proud of the way students represented Westport. I saw many examples of our kids helping kids from other states during our time at Cornell University.”

When visiting Mr. Ellis’ room, where Science Olympiad takes place, everyone was thoroughly focusing on their work, and enjoying light, joking conversations.

We had a few requests for interview turned down by students out of interest for their work. This, along with many other factors is what got the Science Olympiad team a high ranking at the national finals.

“Answers don’t come simply,” Smith told said. “You have to understand things.” Other students like 8th grader Matthew Fleming enjoy the social aspect of it. “I have a lot of friends here and like participating in events,” he told us.

“What impresses me so much about Science Olympiad is the passion that so many students get when they study,” said Mr. Ellis.

All in all, Science Olympiad is a great, collaborative way to express passion and love for engineering.